Banana-rack.



A. 1. DOD D.

BANANA RACK.

APPLICATION LED JUNE 9, 915- 1,21 1,926. Patented Jan. 9, 1917.

Ema/MM s @W D W W Rb w M wwmwh. 11 A l )T\ MMN mm Mi ALBERT J. DODD, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

BANANA-RACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 9, 1917.

Application filed. June 9, 1915. Serial No. 33,172.

to provide a rack which is of such nature that a bunch of bananas may be expeditiously supported for dispensing and display purposes and may, at the same time, be readily transported from one portion of the store to another, without being removed from the rack.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a rack which consists essentially in a supporting base; a plurality of vertical standards, which rise therefrom; and a swiveled hook, which is detachably engaged in the crown of the supporting frame (which member is constituted by the standards) and is adaptedto serve as a hanger for a bunch of bananas.

The above, and other incidental objects of a similar nature, which will be hereinafter more specifically treated are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the claims which are appended hereto and form part of this application.

With reference to the drawings, wherein there has been illustrated the preferred embodiment of this invention as it is reduced to practice, and throughout the several views of which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the rack, showing a bunch of bananas suspended therein, one of the standards of the rack being broken away; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken immediately above the base; Fig. 3 is a detail view in top plan of the lower section of a modified form ofcrown block; Fig. 4 is a detail view in plan of the upper section of the modified form of crown block; Fig. 5 is a detail fragmentary view in vertical section of a portion of the crown block, showlng the two elements thereof assembled and the upper end of one of the standards clamped therebetween; Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view showing the lower terminals of the hangers which form part of the swivel, the head of the swivel hook being all shown; and Fig. in section of the preferred modification of the crown portion of the block and swivel hook.

As best disclosed as an entirety in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, the rack includes generally a supporting base 10; a plurality of vertical standards 11, which rise from the base; a crown block 12, which connects the upper terminals of the standards; and a swiveled hook, generally designated by the letter A, which is detachably secured to the crown block. The supporting base 10, preferably consists in a pair of cross sills or bars 13 and 14:, the terminals of which are provided with the supporting blocks or extensions 15, while the cross sills or bars, as shown in the drawings, are preferably employed as a base, it is, of course, obvious that a solid slab of wood or a sheet metal base, supported upon casters or any equivalent structure, may be employed as a substitute for the supporting base, herein shown without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

If desired, the extensions 15 may be accompan ed by casters to facilitate the transporting of the rack around the store. The

vertical standards 11 are preferably formed from metal bars, although wood or equivalent material may be employed as a substitute. The standards are preferably four in number, although a greater or less number may be employed, if desired, and are quadrantly spaced from each other, there being one standard secured adjacent each terminal of each of the members 13 and 14. The upper terminals of the standards are curved inwardly, as indicated at 16 and are suitably secured to the crown block 12. This crown block is formed as a metal casting and 1s provided with a centrally located, threaded bore. This threaded bore is located in vertical alinement with the point of intersection of the members 13 and 14, so that the weight of the bunch of bananas will be uniformly distributed in the supporting base.

A'swivel hook, heretofore designated as 7 is a detail view partly an entirety the letter A, includes a means of a washer 23.

It will now be observed particularly upon referenceto Fig. 1, that the threaded shank 17 is adapted to be threaded into the bore of the crown block for attaching the hook thereto.

When the shank 1'7. has been threaded home, the head 19 engages against the crown block. A retaining nut is then applied to the upper end of the shank to prevent this member from rotating in' the crown block. By the construction illustrated in Fig. 6, the shank of the hook A is swiveled or rotatably supported, but'this shank can be readily detached by rotating the shankfrom a vertical position to a horizontal position so thatthe shank will be disposed between the members 20- and 21 and "then' withdrawing-the shank from between said members.

Referring now to Fig. 1, it will be seen 7 -that when the rack is completely assembled,

as V

in, by applying the rope loop (which usually accompanies a bunch of bananas may be suspended there- 7 each bunch of'bananas) to the hook 19. I

In the modified form of theinvention, illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the crown block 12 is replaced by a crown piece which consists of twoplate-likesections2 L and'25, which members are preferably circular and are provided at quadrantly spaced points with apertures 26, through which bolts or equivalent fastening devices may'pass, for

securing the two platesto each other, as in Fig. 5. As shown in this latter figure, the "lower plate 24; is provided at quadrantly spaced pointswith sockets 27 which are enlarged at their inner ends to receive the cir- ,cularheads '28 formed on the upper termifj In the modified form of the invention 'shownin Fig. 7 the standards 1-1 are crossed nalsof thestandards 1-1. Obviously, aswill be seen upon reference to Fig.. 5, the heads 28 havingbeen placed in the sockets 27, may be clamped upon the bottom plate 2A and held againstmovement therefrom, by applying theupper plate '25 and clamping it against the lower plate, by means of the bolts.

at their upper ends as {indicated at 29 in Fig. 7. At the intersectionof these standards "there is a central 'aperture,through which passes a bolt 30. The bolt 30 is provided with a nut 31 and head 32, for an obvious purpose. The swivel hook of Fig. 7 is formed preferably from a single length of wire or from a steel rod which is bent to form a substantially V-shaped bill 33 and the arms or shank members 3-1. These members 34: diverge upwardly with respect to each other and with respect to the bill and are provided with inwardly directed eyes 86 which are adapted to register with each other andto loosely surround the bolt 30.

In the construction above described and in Fig. 1 the hook supporting the bananas is detachably secured to the standards and also freely rotatable, or in other words, is swiveled so that the bunch of bananas may be turned around so as to display every portion thereof to an intending purchaser. At v the same time, in the construction shown in Fig. 7, it is impossible to remove the hook without removing the nut and bolt. In Fig.

1 the bolt is provided with armswhich embrace the shank of the hook, while in Fig. 7 the hook is provided with arms which engage the shank and bolt. It will be noted that with my construction the base 10 pre- I now desire to direct particular attention it 'to the fact that the bunch of bananas, when suspended in a rack-constructed in accordance with the present invention may be easvents the spreading of the lower ends of the arms and thus the base holds the lower ends ilyturned within the rack for purposes of 1.

display to the customer and that the entire rack may be readily transported from one portion o'fthe store to another, without requiring that the bunch of bananas be removed therefrom.

In reduction to practice, it has been found that the form of this invention, illustrated in the drawings, and referred to in the above description as the preferred embodiment, is

ing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of this device will necessarily vary,

it is desirable to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in the details of con- V the most eflicient and practical; yetrealiz- ,struction, proportion and arrangement of 1. A rack of the character described including upwardly and inwardly extending spaced standards operatively connected at their upper ends, a bolt operatively connected to the standards and depending therefrom and having a head at its lower end,

and a hook having upwardly extending arms, said arms at their upper ends having inwardly extending superposed eyes through which said bolt passes, said eyes embracing the bolt above the head and loosely surrounding the bolt whereby the hook may be freely rotated.

2. A rack of the character described including a supporting base, a supporting frame comprising rods connected at their upper ends and extending downward to and inserted in said standards, the rods crossing each other at their upper ends, a bolt passing through the rods and having a head at its lower end, and a supporting hook having an upwardly extending bill and upwardly extending arms, the extremities of the arms having inwardly extending extremities being formed to provide superposed eyes through which the bolt loosely passes whereby said hook is swiveled upon the bolt.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT J. DODD. Witnesses:

DONALD F. KrLLoNIus, PAUL J. KILLONIUS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

